Chapter 12

Draco squinted as the bright sunlight hit his eyes. He was standing in front of Luther's Medical Center. Being so harsh to Harry had torn him apart. Although he knew he had hurt Harry, Draco firmly believed that he had done the right thing. Harry would most likely hate him, but it was for his own good. Draco knew that things would be very different for Harry from now on.

Walking towards his bike, Draco took to an old habit. He pulled a pack of cigarettes from his jacket pocket and lit one. Taking a long drag, Draco sighed. There was no way the situation he'd put not only himself, but Harry in as well, would not end in anything less than disaster. With a last pull on his cigarette Draco flicked the butt to the ground as he straddled his bike. Without even bothering to put on a helmet Draco drove off.

After driving around aimlessly for an hour, Draco found himself idling his bike outside of his godfather's house. He ran a nervous hand through his wind-tousled hair. Draco steeled himself for the confrontation of the century. He had no doubts that his godfather would question him mercilessly. Sighing, Draco climbed off of his bike and headed up the walkway. Draco raised his hand to the front door. For a moment his brain would not send the proper signals to his hand to make it move. After a deep breath Draco boldly knocked on the front door before stepping back. Not a minute later did his godfather stand in the doorway before him.

"Draco. To what do I owe this pleasure?"

Draco sighed, and so it begins, "I just needed someone to talk to; someone who understands me. Everything is falling apart, Sev."

Severus Snape gestured for his godson to enter, "come in, come in, boy. We do not talk on the front porch like heathens. Now, what, may I ask, is this all about?"

"Harry."

"Ah, I see, Potter. Insolent boy, that one. What is the problem? From what I've heard he has been … receiving treatment for a serious condition for the past few weeks."

Draco nodded, "yeah. I went to see him today, Sev. I-I couldn't just let him think he needed to be dependent on me. I was so harsh, Sev. He'll hate me forever."

Severus looked at Draco for a second, "I don't know why, but it seems you've grown attached to this boy. Maybe, just maybe, you need him as much as he needs you. You've never really had someone in your life, other than I, that has been willing to love you unconditionally. I love Lucius like a brother, but I do not approve of the way he chose to raise you. I think you need this, Draco."

"No, Sev, I don't want him to feel like he has to need me. I don't want him to lose himself. That's not what I want. Which was why I said what I did the way I did. Even if this all ends in him hating me for the rest of his life, it is worth it because I will know that Harry will be his own person."

Severus regarded his godson with a critical eye. He knew Draco far better than the boy knew himself. He could tell that Draco's journey with Harry was far from over. The two boys had too many emotional ties in too short of a time for it to all be over in one instant. No, Severus didn't think it would be easy for either of them, but some things were bound to happen. The gleam in Draco's eyes when he talked about Harry and the distant look on his face when he spoke about Harry hating him. Severus could see what Draco wasn't aware of yet, he was in love, whether he wanted to acknowledge that or not. There was no getting away from that fact. Severus took pity on the disheartened teenager.

"Why don't you stay the night, Draco. I do not think that you would appreciate being alone in a near empty mansion of a house tonight. You know you are always welcome here."

Draco smiled gratefully, "thanks, Sev, I think I will. I still have some clothes here from last time. I'm just going to go upstairs and relax or something. I'll be down for dinner."

Severus nodded. Draco took the stairs two at a time. His room at Severus' house was at the very end of the hall. When Severus had decided to move into town he had set up a room specifically for Draco. Now, Draco was glad his godfather had been so thoughtful. He collapsed onto his bed and turned on the stereo. Draco's Secondhand Serenade CD played softly from the speakers. Burrowing into his soft bed, Draco sang along in his head. Emotionally drained, Draco soon drifted off into a light sleep.

When Harry awoke it was to the crushing feeling that something was missing, and he knew exactly what that something was; Draco. He looked around, he was still in Sam's office. Sam sat across from him with a book in his lap. Every minute or so Harry would hear the page turn and he soon found himself waiting for it. The act and sounds of Sam reading were immensely soothing and reminded Harry of a time when he was little. He and his parents used to sit and read as a family after dinner instead of watching TV like some families. It was in that moment that Harry felt like he could trust Sam wholeheartedly, there was just something about him. Harry coughed lightly to get the older man's attention.

"Harry, welcome back," Sam placed his book on a nearby table, "I was wondering when you'd wake up. Are you alright? I know this new turn of events must be damaging."

Harry thought on that for a moment, "I'll be fine. I think I know what happened."

"Oh? Would you care to tell me?"

"Um, I know this sounds stupid, but I think Draco is afraid of being needed by someone else. He didn't have a great childhood. Maybe he's afraid of turning into his father, ignoring those he loves if he lets them in too close."

Sam nodded, "a very mature way to think about it."

"Do – do I have to go back to my room now?"

"No," Sam started slowly, "is there something else you'd rather do?"

Harry blushed, "well, I was wondering if I could just sit here and read with you. It's something I used to do with my parents before they died."

Sam took the simple gesture for what it was, a peace offering. Harry wanted to get better. There was no doubt in Sam's mind that Harry was well on his way to being his old self. Yes, things were improving.

"Anything you'd like. I have a bookshelf over in the corner. Go ahead and pick out a book you'd like to read."

"Thanks."

Harry got to his feet and shuffled over to the bookshelf. His fingers trailed over the spines of the books as he searched for one he'd like to read. There were a ton of different genres of books, something for everyone. Harry's eyes lit up when he saw one of his favorite books, The Outsiders. Harry plucked it from the shelf and moved back to the couch and settled in. Together Sam and Harry fell into a comfortable silence. A knock sounded on the door an hour later and Dr. Benson stepped into the room.

"Sam, is Harry still here?"

"Yes, he is. Why? Is there a problem?"

Dr. Benson noticed the smile on Harry's face. It wasn't his usually smirk it was an actual smile. He was completely oblivious to everything around him. Dr. Benson noticed this for what it was.

"No, of course not. He just needs his evening medication. Harry," at being directly addressed Harry looked up, "how about we head back to your room? You'll see Sam tomorrow."

Harry shrugged, "okay. Bye Sam."

"Bye, Harry. Take that with you," Sam told him as he noticed Harry putting the book back on the shelf, "it will give you something to do."

"Thanks."

Sam smiled fondly at Harry and gave a slight nod of his head. He watched as Harry exited the room with the doctor. They were definitely getting somewhere.

Harry entered his room with Dr. Benson in tow. He set the book down on the bedside table and climbed onto his bed. Dr. Benson waited for Harry to get settled before approaching him. Much to the doctor's surprise Harry obediently stuck his arm out. After he'd been administered his medication Harry picked the book back up and continued where he'd left off. Dr. Benson quietly left the room. Evan, who'd been at his own therapy session, caught the tail end of the exchange and smiled to himself. He crawled onto his bed and rolled to his side before allowing himself to sleep. Harry read until the nurses called lights out.

"Draco? It's time for dinner."

Draco was roused from sleep by Severus knocking on his door, "okay, Sev. I'll be down in a minute."

Draco listened as Severus walked away from his bedroom door. He got to his feet and walked across the hall and into the bathroom. Splashing cold water on his face, Draco tried to wash the sleep from his eyes. After he was satisfied that Severus would not send him back upstairs for looking like a street hoodlum, Draco headed downstairs. When he reached the kitchen Severus was on the phone. At the sound of Draco entering the kitchen Severus turned around.

"Draco, it's for you. Sam."

Draco paled, "uh, thanks, Sev. I'm just going to take this outside."

Draco walked out the backdoor and into the yard.

"Hello?"

"Ah, good, Draco. I know things didn't go so well today, but I wanted to thank you. However strange, the session seemed to help Harry. I think he understands more than you give him credit for. I just have one thing to ask of you. Do not let your fear keep you away. Harry strives to get better for you. He wants to show you that he is not weak. Draco, just because Harry might depend on you sometimes, does not mean that he loses any part of himself. Harry just needs your presence to reassure himself that you will not leave him when things go sour. Just remember that."

All Draco could do was stare at the phone as he heard the dial tone loud and clear.